Legality Of Using A Recorder (Dictaphone) while driving

The Australian road rules do not expressly forbid this as they don't eating an icecream, having a smoke and picking your nose but if I was a copper and you were weaving all over the road while using this device I'd find something to book you for.

my understanding is that two way radio's are not illegal (SA at least)...so i guess dictaphones would not be either....

Suppose it comes down to driving with "due care and attention".

I never use my dick to phone........ I use my finger.........

The cop in NSW who nailed me for using my mobile phone had one in his top pocket.

Police are exempt from the laws about using mobile phones.

Now they have stopped using radios, but use mobile phones instead, can we expect that the exclusion of use of a radio when driving will be removed from the laws???

There was a case recently in the UK where a woman driver was stopped because the police officer observing thought she was using a mobile phone. In fact it she was holding an apple in one hand. She was successfully prosecuted for not being in proper control of her car on the grounds that she was driving one handed round a bend. They even coincidentally had a helicopter filming the junction and used the film as evidence, even though it showed that she successfully completed the manoeuvre without a problem or risk to anyone.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4203375.stm

Where now from here...

Ken

Are those who wish to be seen using a phone/dictaphone so damn important they can't wait until they're at home/office/out of the car before using the things?

What sort of big noter has to advertise his stupidity on the forum by posting this rubbish?

When driving your vehicle you should be wholley concentrating on just that, not gobbing off to your mates or "dictating" or whatever.
Dog save us from these idiots!
Alan.

Why not just get a hands free microphone to use the recorder then you don't have to worry about the legalities?

Was told by my driving tester (RTA) that its illegal to not have 2 hands on the steering wheel (drinking eating giving the bird and of course mobile phones) i asked then how do i change gears she said its the only examption and your hand should be returned to the wheel straight away. My P test was only done (wow i was going to say 3 or 4 years ago but after counting) it was done 9 years ago i wouldnt think that things would of changed scince then.
Guy

Ehh, As someone who is admittedley naive and ignorant in these matters can someone plese tell me what the difference is between talking into a dictaphone and talking into a CB while driving?
Aplogies if I have missed something.

WDR there are a number of points listed above where there seem to be inconsistencies with the laws across Australia, just read with the site below it is not illegal to use a CB radio, though in Victoria there is ban on "transmitting" with a phone or radio. http://www.officeofroadsafety.wa.gov.au/Facts/mbl_leg.html Lots of comment on the net is the distraction of other people in the car. I know when I have given considered answers to questioners I have found just as much distraction as any phone call I have had.

I was following one woman on the South-western side of Geelong today on Highway 1 where she seemed to have something to do on the floor of the car so I overtook on the wrong side and she was left nearly 150 metres behind at the next traffic lights. You don't need to have a phone obviously to cause problems to other travellers.

there are a number of things that are distracting.
- kids playing up ot just beeing attended to while driving, see it all the time, even in the back seat
- people lighting up while driving or getting out their smoke, let alone a narcotic type
- adjusting the stereo, station changing, CD changing
- reading papers or street directories while driving, yes I have seen it
- talking on a camera phone even with the hands free - camera/screen on top of the steering wheel so the blonde in the BMW could see it and be seen. West Gate Freeway last year !
- and of course eating, possibly dropping the sauce or lettuce down you

WDR it doesn't seem to be illegal using your dictaphone until you find an officer who thinks it's a phone and will threaten you anyway. It may be just as distractiong as any above, as you try to compose your message. I must say when the pressure is off in super-regulated Victoria, at 100 kph, a phone makes some use of the extended time driving with an ear piece of course.